2023 Essence Festival: Performance Lineup, How to Watch & Where to Buy Tickets

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The Essence Festival returns to New Orleans this weekend, powered by a star-studded lineup featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott and Megan Thee Stallion as headliners.

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The multi-day festival, presented by Coca-Cola and held at the Caesars Superdome, launched on Thursday (June 29), but main stage performances start Friday with Hill as the marquee act. Elliott is scheduled to headline Saturday, followed by Megan Thee Stallion on Sunday.

Additional performers include Jill Scott, Wizkid, Ari Lennox, Coco Jones, Janelle Monáe, Juvenile, Tems, Tobe Nwigwe, Jagged Edge, Monica and Muni Long.

The festival will also celebrate hip-hop’s 50th anniversary with performances from Doug E. Fresh, Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, KRS-One, Slick Rick, E-40, Ice Cube, Slick Rick, Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, Big Boi, Gucci Mane, Lil Jon, T.I. and more.

Angie Martinez will host a women in hip-hop showcase featuring Eve, Mia X, Remy Ma, Salt-N-Pepa and Trina.

DJ Clark Kent, Kid Capri and DJ Spinderella are the weekend’s guest DJs. Janelle James, Deon Cole, Affion Crockett and Spice Adams will host.

Keep reading for details on when and how to stream for free and ticket pricing.

How to Watch the 2023 Essence Festival for Free

Can’t make it to the festival this year? No worries! Hulu is the official destination to watch the action go down. The Essence Fest Primetime livestream will run on the platform from June 30 to July 2 from 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET to 11:59 p.m. CT/12:59 p.m. ET.

Not a Hulu subscriber? Join today and receive a 30-day free trial to stream the 2023 Essence Festival and other programs in the massive library. Hulu plans start at $7.99 a month after the free trial ends.

Hulu

Price: $7.99/month after 30-day free trial

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Additionally, select daytime programming including panel discussions and evening musical performances might be available exclusively to Hulu SVOD for subscribers to livestream at no additional cost.

Essence Festival Tickets: Where to Buy

Besides must-watch performances, Essence Fest 2023 will feature virtual and on-the-ground vendors along with an immersive beauty experience, a wellness house, tech summit, film festival and more. Essence Fest takes place from June 29 to July 3, and while most tickets have already sold out for Friday and Saturday’s performances, you can still find passes at Ticketmaster and other sites such as Vivid Seats, StubHub and Seat Geek.

Tickets to the concert performances range from around $65-$70 to upwards of $550 for Friday, but you’re likely to find cheaper tickets for Saturday and Sunday, depending on when you buy them. (Three-day passes are also available for around $180 up to $1,800.)

Essence Festival Tickets

Price: $from $65

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Looking for travel accommodations? While it’s best to book as early as possible, you might be able to find last-minute travel deals on hotels, rental cars and plane tickets through travel and vacation rental sites such as Expedia, Travelocity, Vrbo, Airbnb and Orbitz.

To find more essentials for Essence Fest 2023, be sure to read our recommendations for the best shoes and best backpacks for travel and venue-approved bags to take to concerts.

See the below for an Essence Fest schedule, but be sure to note that performance times are subject to change.

Essence Festival Performance Lineup/Streaming Schedule

Friday, June 30

• Tobe Nwigwe — 8:34 p.m. ET; 7:34 p.m. CT; 5:34 p.m. PT

• Ari Lennox  — 9:23 p.m. ET; 8:23 p.m. CT; 6:23 p.m. PT

• Juvenile — 10:22 p.m. ET; 9:22 p.m. CT; 7:22 p.m. PT

• Jagged Edge – 10:48 p.m. ET; 9:48 p.m. CT; 7:48 p.m. PT

• 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop Curated by Doug E. Fresh – 11:31 p.m. ET; 10:31 p.m. CT; 8:31 p.m. PT.

• Janelle Monáe – 12:27 a.m. ET; 11:27 p.m. CT; 9:27 p.m. PT

• Ms. Lauryn Hill – 1:12 a.m. ET; 12:12 p.m. CT; 10:12 p.m. PT

Saturday, July 1

• Coco Jones — 8:30 p.m. ET; 7:30 p.m. CT; 5:30 p.m. PT

• West Coast All-Stars featuring Ice Cube – 9:28 p.m. ET; 8:29 p.m. CT; 6:28 p.m. PT

• Monica – 10:57 p.m. ET; 9:57 p.m. CT; 7:57 p.m. PT

• The South Got Something to Say (curation by Jermaine Dupri) – 11:33 p.m. ET; 10:33 p.m. CT; 8:33 p.m. PT

• Missy Elliott – 1:31 a.m. ET; 12:31 a.m. CT; 10:31 p.m. PT

Sunday, July 2

• Muni Long 8:30 p.m. ET; 7:30 p.m. CT; 5:30 p.m. PT

• In Real Life: 50 Years of Women in Hip-Hop (curation by Angie Martinez) – 9:28 p.m. ET; 8:28 p.m. CT; 6:28 p.m. PT

• Tems – 10:45 p.m. ET; 9:45 p.m. CT; 7:45 p.m. PT

• Wizkid – 12:05 a.m. ET; 11:05 p.m. CT; 9:05 p.m. PT

• Megan Thee Stallion – 1:05 a.m. ET; 12:05 a.m. CT; 10:05 p.m. PT

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